Municipal Leadership for Juvenile Justice Reform
LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
Request for Proposals
WHAT:
A two-day convening of teams of city officials and local partners to learn about
opportunities to engage in and lead juvenile justice reform efforts.
Despite substantial decreases in juvenile crime rates during the past decade, the nation’s juvenile
justice systems remain in great need of fundamental reforms. For example, the availability of highquality, community-based alternatives to incarceration for youth and supports for reentry is uneven
and racial and ethnic disparities within the juvenile justice system are unacceptably large. A number
of states and local jurisdictions are making important progress in improving these systems, relying
on evidence-based models that hold youth accountable for their actions in developmentally
appropriate ways. In some states, local governments – including cities – are assuming greater
responsibility for community-based treatment, diversion programs, and re-entry. These promising
developments provide the basis for new and expanded city-led efforts to improve outcomes for
young people and communities across the nation.
The Models for Change initiative of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is playing
a key role in reshaping the juvenile justice system, grounded in core principles of fundamental
fairness; developmental differences between youth and adults; individual strengths and needs;
youth potential; responsibility; and safety. Models for Change has supported counties and states in
reforming the way they treat young people who are charged with crimes. Local officials say that
Models for Change has helped them improve public safety and support youth, even as they grapple
with tight budgets and tough fiscal decisions. As a system reform initiative, Models for Change is
working comprehensively on juvenile justice reform in four states and concentrating on the issues
of status offenders, mental health services, juvenile indigent defense, and racial and ethnic
disparities in an additional twelve states and through newly-established Resource Centers.
Mayors and other city officials have unique opportunities to drive further improvements in their
local juvenile justice systems. Municipal leaders and their community-based and faith-based
partners can explore new roles and resources in collaboration with the courts and juvenile
probation. City agencies (particularly in consolidated city/county governments) may also stand to
benefit financially from the adoption of promising juvenile justice reinvestment strategies.
As part of an 18-month strategic partnership initiative with the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur
Foundation, the National League of Cities (NLC) Institute for Youth, Education, and Families will
host a Municipal Leadership for Juvenile Justice Reform Leadership Academy on June 11-13,
2014. This convening will provide city officials with the skills and knowledge they need to consider
and take up leadership roles in juvenile justice reform, giving participants intensive access to
national experts, promising practice examples, peer sharing, and local action planning.
WHERE:
National League of Cities Meeting Center, 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.,
Suite 550, Washington, D.C.; 202/626-3000.
WHO:
Local elected officials, senior city staff, and other community stakeholders applying
in two- or three-person city teams.
NLC will select teams from up to 15 cities to attend the leadership academy. Each city may
nominate a team of two or three representatives that must include at least one of the following
individuals: the Mayor; a city council member; or a senior representative of the Mayor’s or City
Manager’s office. Other team members may include but are not limited to: senior representatives
of city agencies including police departments; juvenile court officials including detention or
probation officials, prosecutors, public defenders or judges; and community-based service providers
implementing programs for youth at-risk for involvement or involved in the juvenile justice system.
NLC will select, on a competitive basis, a diverse set of cities of various sizes from different
regions of the country to participate in the leadership academy. Preference will be given to cities
that are members in good standing of NLC. NLC will use selection criteria that include evidence
of high-level municipal leadership and commitment to improving outcomes for youth involved in
the juvenile justice system, collaboration among relevant city, county and state agencies, and a clear
indication of how the leadership academy can catalyze local efforts.
WHEN:
The leadership academy will take place on June 11-13, 2014, beginning with an opening
dinner and program on Wednesday evening and concluding with lunch on Friday.
Interested cities must submit applications via e-mail (see instructions below) on or before
April 4, 2014. We encourage early applications. NLC will announce all selections by
April 11, 2014.
BENEFITS: Selected city teams will learn about best practices and lessons learned from the Models
for Change initiative; explore successful efforts to improve juvenile justice initiatives in
cities across the country, especially through diversion and re-entry initiatives and efforts
to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities; gain access to and guidance from juvenile
justice experts; and strengthen their relationships with peers in cities across the nation.
Following the Leadership Academy, NLC will invite participating cities to join a new NLC Juvenile
Justice Peer Learning Network, which will provide ongoing opportunities for city leaders to learn
and receive support from nationally-recognized experts in the field and from peers in other cities.
TRAVEL:
NLC will reimburse participants for airline travel (up to a maximum of $500) as well as
hotel and other travel-related costs in accordance with to NLC’s travel reimbursement
policies. Meeting participants will receive reimbursements promptly upon submission of
travel receipts following the convening.
FOR MORE INFORMATION about this RFP or the Leadership Academy, please participate in the
Question and Answer Session at 3:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, March 19, 2014. The
conference call in number is 888-608-3665, and the conference code is 242-739-9217.
Municipal Leadership for Juvenile Justice Reform
LEADERSHIP ACADEMYAPPLICATION FORM
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: APRIL 4, 2014
City: __________________________________________ Population: _____________
Team Member One (City Lead Representative):
Name:_____________________________________________________________________
Title:______________________________________________________________________
Office/Agency:_____________________________________________________________
Street Address: _____________________________________________________________
City, State, and Zip Code: _____________________________________________________
Phone:(_____)___________________________
Email:_____________________________________________________________________
Team Member Two:
Name:_____________________________________________________________________
Title:______________________________________________________________________
Office/Agency:_____________________________________________________________
Street Address: _____________________________________________________________
City, State, and Zip Code: _____________________________________________________
Phone:(_____)___________________________
Email:_____________________________________________________________________
Team Member Three (Optional):
Name:_____________________________________________________________________
Title:______________________________________________________________________
Office/Agency:_____________________________________________________________
Street Address: _____________________________________________________________
City, State, and Zip Code: _____________________________________________________
Phone:(_____)__________________________
Email:_____________________________________________________________________
TEAM APPLICATION QUESTIONS
Responses to the questions below will help NLC assess your community’s capacity and commitment to
engage in and lead juvenile justice reform initiatives. Only one application is required per city. Please do not
exceed four pages for the narrative portion.
1. What is the current status of juvenile justice reform efforts in your city? What current
developments or local trends in the juvenile justice system (arrest rates, use of detention, local
and/or off-site incarceration, etc.) are most noteworthy? How, if at all, have proposed
Leadership Academy participants been involved in any prior or current reform efforts?
2. Which key state, county, or local agencies or organizations will be considered as city partners in
future juvenile justice reform efforts? Please provide brief descriptions of these organizations,
including the role that each organization plays in the current juvenile justice system or youth
service provision.
3. Describe any data collection and analysis you have already completed related to young people
from your city who are involved in the juvenile justice system. What capacity, if any, does your
city have to share this data with other relevant systems and partners?
4. What strategies, if any, are you considering to assist and improve outcomes for youth involved in
the juvenile justice system?
5. How will participation in this leadership academy strengthen local efforts to implement or
expand juvenile justice reforms in your city? Please identify one or two specific goals that
your city would like to accomplish and specific strategies you would like the leadership
academy to address.
Application Admissions Checklist:
 Completed application form (please print or type)
 Responses to the required questions (no more than four pages)
 Email application materials to Laura Furr by April 4, 2014: furr@nlc.org
For questions about the application materials or the leadership academy, please contact Laura Furr
at furr@nlc.org or (202) 626-3072 or participate in the Question and Answer session at 3:00 p.m.
EDT on Monday, March 19, 2014.